expressed interest in eight years earlier. The company only runs
expeditions in March and October, and as much as I would’ve liked
March when it’s warmer and the rhododendrons are in flower, I
knew the restaurant would be too busy and I had to get in shape.
Six months before an expedition, climbers are advised to do
three-to-five, 40- to 60-minute sessions of intense physical exercise
a week. I enlisted the help of a personal trainer and did three
40-minute sessions each week, combined with occasional running.
I knew that for every minute of ‘suffering’, it would be one minute
less on the mountain.
Then there’s the climbing equipment, which is extensive and
expensive, but when you’re out in the wilderness for 26 days, you
can’t afford to take many shortcuts. One of the members of our
group hired boots, which gradually fell to pieces over the trip. He
suffered frost nip on the first peak and didn’t want to risk further
damage on the second ascent. While my boots cost $1000, it
allayed my concerns of suffering from frostbite, and I figured at
$100 a toe, it was justifiable.
AND WE’REOFF...
Travelling to Lukla,ourstartingpoint,is an
adventure in itself, theflighta nerve-racking
experience. At an altitude of 2800 metres,thetown’s
incredibly short runway sits perched onthesideofa mountain.
With the weather in our favour, we landsafelyandbeginthe
long trek towards the mountains, slowlywindingourwaythrough
the valleys to enable us to acclimatise properly,whichis keyto
a successful expedition. Cases of acutemountainsicknessare
common, with symptoms ranging fromheadachesanddizziness
to shortness of breath. Unchecked, it canleadtohigh-altitude
pulmonary edema or cerebral edema, resultingin fluidin thelungs
or swelling in the brain. Immediate descentis theonlyoptionfor
survival – the flurry of helicopters up anddownthemountainsare
a constant reminder of the dangers of headingtogreaterheights.
Conditions can change quickly, makingeventheeasiestclimba
potentially life-threatening experience.
Sometimes no amount of preparationis enoughforthe
unforeseen. Three days in, my tent companiontripsoverand
breaks his finger. Despite being a minorinjury,theneedforan
X-ray and the fact he’s now unable to handleropeworkmeanshe
has to be taken back to Kathmandu. Ourgroupfeelshisfrustration
at having to go home so soon, his desiretoreachthemountain
unfulfilled. It could have happened to anyofus.
A week later we leave the exotic oasisofthejunglecanopyand
head into the remote wilderness. The sheerscaleofthelandscape
is awe-inspiring, with an image to be capturedateveryturn.Iconic
prayer flags flutter on the mountainside– theirbrighthuesofred,
blue, yellow, white and green representingeachoftheelementsCHEF’S JOURNEY.
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